Shirley Clayrene Reed

Funeral service for Shirley Reed will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at the Inola Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery.

Shirley Clayrene Reed passed away on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at the age of 88. She was born on September 27, 1937, in Inola, Oklahoma, to Ray Ollie McDaris and Ruby (Logan) McDaris. Shirley grew up in Inola and graduated as salutatorian of the Inola High School Class of 1956.

Shortly after graduation, she married her high school sweetheart, Don Vaught, on August 17, 1956. One son was born to this union. They later divorced. In time, through mutual friends Mike Bynum and Merle Best, she was introduced to Hershel Reed, who was passing through from Ohio. Their introduction blossomed into love, and they were married on July 1, 1968. One son was born to this marriage.

Clayrene spent most of her working years in Tulsa. She was employed at Petroleum Publishing, Sunray DX Oil Company, and Gear Products. Later, she entered the retail field, working at J.C. Penney and Dollar General.

In her spare time, Shirley loved to travel and visited every state east of the Mississippi River, along with many western states. She especially cherished fishing trips to Ohio with her family. She also enjoyed planting flowers, playing cards, watching westerns on television, and following ballgames.

A proud Christian, Shirley gave her life to the Lord at the age of 17. She was a faithful member of Inola First Baptist Church, the same church where she was baptized at 17.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ray McDaris and Ruby McDaris Baker; her son, Howard Clay Reed; and two brothers and one sister who all passed away in infancy.

Shirley is survived by her loving husband, Hershel Reed; her son, Eric Reed and wife Susan; grandsons, Landon Reed and wife Morgan, and Logan Reed and wife Kylie, who were the light of her life; as well as many cousins scattered throughout the United States.